GWL219 - The Retirement Home Industry - Overview and Skills

Outline information
Semester
Schools offering this subject
Last revision date 2023-10-02 00:07:51.753
Last review date 2023-12-04 00:15:01.738

Subject Title
The Retirement Home Industry - Overview and Skills

Subject Description
This subject introduces students to the Retirement Home Industry as part of the range of housing options for seniors. It examines how Retirement Homes promote theories of independent living, aging in community, and active living. The course also analyses the professionalization of the industry over the past decade through the establishment of industry associations, standards of practice, accreditation, and monitoring regulations.  Special attention will address the COVID-19 pandemic impact on residents living in retirement homes in Ontario and the changes in the regulations and legislation. Students will learn about the most recent and relevant legislation and standards of practice, universal design for barrier free access, typical programs and services offered, marketing and promotion, and the resources needed for operation. Students will also examine common issues and challenges for this sector particularly SES constraints, the trend towards Re-Activation Units, pandemic quarantine issues, ageism, and death rates during pandemics. This course will be delivered asynchronously except during dates of final project presentations.

Credit Status
One Credit

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

  1. Conduct research on a range of housing options for older adults using relevant theories and models including; independent living, active living, reactivation units, universal design. This will be presented online to their peers in pairs or small groups and evaluated through quizzes.
  2. Examine the role and scope that “major players” occupy in the retirement sector and identify the recent COVID pandemic responses by the industry by presenting current for-profit and not-for-profit options on the market and their rates of COVID infection control to their peers online.
  3. Apply a basic understanding of the growth and professionalization of the retirement home industry in Ontario linking the newest most relevant legislation that regulates the industry including pandemic response legislation. There are two tests to evaluate for these items.
  4. Assess for both the common and unique profile needs of older adults considering retirement home living using common industry and field assessment tools and calculating for affordability under the new COVID pandemic requirements.
  5. Demonstrate a clear understanding of standards of practice, ethical guidelines, and professional associations related to the retirement home industry through case studies and online discussion boards
  6. Develop skills in calculating the costs of human resources, capital and operational costs, venture capitalist investments, and additional resources needed to develop and operate a retirement home within the RHRA, AODA, COVID Pandemic and ORCA standards using Universal Access Design and Technology.  Students will present virtual retirement home proposals online in groups.
  7. Identified typical programs and services available in a retirement home setting in a presentation of a mock retirement home model online in groups.
  8. Apply contemporary older adult theories and basic techniques used for marketing, recruitment, and retention used in the retirement home industry and NPO organizations by creating a “unique” retirement home model to service an identified cohort of seniors.

Essential Employability Skills

    •  Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken and visual form that fulfils the purpose and meets the needs of the audience.

    •  Respond to written, spoken, or visual messages in a manner that ensures effective communication.

    •  Execute mathematical operations accurately.

    •  Apply a systematic approach to solve problems.

    •  Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate and solve problems.

    •  Locate, select, organize, and document information using appropriate technology and information systems.

    •  Analyze, evaluate, and apply relevant information from a variety of sources.

    •  Show respect for diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others.

    •  Interact with others in groups or teams in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.

    •  Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects.

    •  Take responsibility for one's own actions, decisions, and consequences.

Academic Integrity
Seneca upholds a learning community that values academic integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, respect, responsibility and courage. These values enhance Seneca's commitment to deliver high-quality education and teaching excellence, while supporting a positive learning environment. Ensure that you are aware of Seneca's Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at: http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academic-integrity-policy.html Review section 2 of the policy for details regarding approaches to supporting integrity. Section 2.3 and Appendix B of the policy describe various sanctions that can be applied, if there is suspected academic misconduct (e.g., contract cheating, cheating, falsification, impersonation or plagiarism).

Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.

Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.

Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.

Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.

By attending live classes, students are consenting to the collection and use of their personal information for the purposes of administering the class and associated coursework. To learn more about Seneca's privacy practices, visit Privacy Notice.